Furúghiyyih Khánum
Furúghiyyih Khánum (c. 1873 - ????) was a daughter of Bahá’u’lláh and the only child of His third wife Gawhar Khánum. After the passing of her Father she opposed His appointed successor ‘Abdu’l-Bahá breaking the Covenant.
Biography[edit]
Furúghiyyih was born around the year 1873 with her parents being Bahá’u’lláh and His third wife Gawhar Khánum. In the late 1870's Bahá’u’lláh granted a request by Khadíjih Bagum, the widow of the Báb, that her nephew, Siyyid ‘Alí Afnán, marry into the family of Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’u’lláh's eldest daughter Bahíyyih Khánum had resolved to not marry in order to serve the Faith and his younger daughter Samadiyyih had married her cousin Majdu’d-Din so Furúghiyyih was betrothed to Siyyid ‘Alí.[1]
In July, 1882, Siyyid ‘Alí traveled to the Holy Land on pilgrimage, however he notably did not bring his aunt Khadíjih Bagum despite her requesting his marriage into Bahá’u’lláh's family on the proviso that he take her on pilgrimage.[2] ‘Alí established his residence in the Holy Land after arriving and married Furúghiyyih in 1886,[3] and after marrying they lived in the building next to the Mansion of Bahjí which became the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh after Bahá’u’lláh's Ascension.[4]
Furúghiyyih was actively involved in the Bahá’í community of the Holy Land, and when Bahá’u’lláh fell ill into the illness that ultimately caused His Ascension in 1892 she became involved in an argument with Nabíl-i-A‘ẓam which lead to several Bahá’ís supporting both of them and forming two groups, with the situation requiring the intervention of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to be resolved.[5] After the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh Furúghiyyih lived in the Mansion of Bahjí with Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí and his family and when Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí began a campaign of opposition against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's position as Head of the Faith Furúghiyyih and her husband supported him and they were expelled from the community as Covenant-breakers.[6]
In 1903 Furúghiyyih and her husband suspended their support of Mírzá Muhammad ‘Alí and rejoined the Bahá’í community however they later resumed their opposition to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.[7] She and ‘Alí had four sons, Husayn, Hasan, Nayyir, and Faydi.[3] She passed away from cancer at some point and her son Nayyir later claimed this was due to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.[8][9]
After the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Furúghiyyih's sons were members of the Bahá’í community for a time, with Nayyir writing to Shoghi Effendi shortly after he became Guardian.[10] Nayyir later married Rúhangiz Rabbání and Hasan married Mehrangiz, the sisters of Shoghi Effendi. Husayn was named a Covenant-breaker by Shoghi Effendi after refusing to resign from a political post,[11] and Nayyir criticized his leadership of the Bahá’í community for an extended period before being named a Covenant-breaker,[12] with all of Furúghiyyih's sons eventually being named Covenant-breakers.[13]
References[edit]
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2009, p 254
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2009, p 49
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ahang Rabbani, The Afnán Family: Some Biographical Notes, 2007
- ↑ Baha'i World Centre, Visiting Baha'i Holy Places, Baha'i World Centre: Haifa, 2003, p 1
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah: Volume 1, George Ronald: Oxford, 1977, p 42
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2009, p 256
- ↑ Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, Leaves of the Twin Divine Trees, George Ronald: Oxford, 2009, p 256
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 364-65
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1992, p 251
- ↑ Rúhíyyih Khánum, The Guardian, Baha'i Publishing Trust: London, 1988, p 15.
- ↑ Moojan Momen, The Covenant and Covenant-breaker, Bahá’í Library Online, 1995
- ↑ Earl Redman, ‘’Through the Pilgrim’s Eye: Volume 1’’, George Ronald: Oxford, ‘’’2015’’’, p 301
- ↑ Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, George Ronald: Oxford, 1972, p 359
